Rotary print head with selective character forming dies



Oct. 5, 1965 A. w. SANBORN 3,209,681

ROTARY PRINT HEAD WITH SELECTIVE CHARACTER FORMING DIES Filed Oct. 4,1963 4 Sheets-Sheet l l/VVE/VTOR Fl 6. 4. 41mm 1% 5/44 80,?

A TTOR/VE Y Oct. 5, 1965 w. SANBQRN 3,209,681

ROTARY PRINT HEAD WITH SELECTIVE CHARACTER FORMING DIES Filed 001;. 4,1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5. FIG. 6.

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CHIHAOTE INVENTOR Alf/FM If. MM?

A TTOR/VE Y United States Patent 3,209,681 RDTARY PRINT HEAD WITHSELECTIVE CHARACTER FORMING DIES Alfred W. Sanborn, North Hollywood,Calif., assignor to General Precision, In.c., a corporation of DelawareFiled Oct. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 313,930 19 Claims. (Cl. 10193) The presentinvention relates to printing mechanisms, and it relates moreparticularly to a high-speed printer which is capable of providing aprinted record with a minimum of components parts.

The improved high-speed printing mechanism of the invention is capable,for example, of providing an alphanumeric printed record, and onecontaining other symbols, by synthesizing each of the alpha-numericand/or other symbols from four basic dies.

The synthesis is accomplished in the embodiment of the invention to bedescribed by rotating a printing head which includes, in the embodimentto be described, four spring loaded printing dies. In order to build upany desired symbol, alpha-numeric or otherwise, one or more of the diesare struck at appropriate times and moved longitudinally against thespring bias to an extended position during each complete rotation of theprinting head. In this manner, the impressions of the dies, struck foreach particular symbol, are caused to be imprinted on the recordingmedium at different angular positions of the printing head, so that thevarious symbols may be properly synthesized.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an improvedalpha-numeric character printing mech anism which is extremely rapid inits operation, and yet which is simple in its construction and whichutilizes a minimum of moving parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an improved characterprinting mechanism which is relatively simple to operate; and one whichmay be constnlcted inexpensively and sold at a relatively low price.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such an improvedhigh-speed printing mechanism which is extremely accurate and precise inits operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such an improvedhigh-speed printing mechanism which is extremely rapid in its operation;and which is capable of achieving printing speeds many times thecapabilities of existing comparable mechanisms, so as to render theprinting mechanism of the invention especially suitable for use withhigh speed automatic calculating, computing, communicating, and othertypes of systems.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent froma consideration of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective representation of one embodiment of thehigh-speed printing mechanism of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective showing of the printing dies which are used inthe mechanism of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the dies of FIGURE 2, grouped together in therotatable printing head of the mechanism of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic representation of the various steps by which theprinting dies of FIGURES 2 and 3 may be selectively actuated during acomplete revolution of the printing head so as to synthesize, by way ofexample, the character A;

3,289,681 Patented Oct. 5, 1965 FIGURE 5 is a plan view, partly insection, and illustrating in a somewhat schematic manner, the operatingcomponents of the printing mechanism of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is an end view of the mechanism of FIG- URE 5, takensubstantially on the line 66 of FIG- URE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an end view of certain ones of the operating components ofthe mechanism of FIGURE 5, taken substantially on the line 7-7 of FIGURE5;

FIGURE 8 is an opposite end view of the components of FIGURE 7, takensubstantially on the line 88 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 9 is a block diagram representative of an electric control systemfor use in conjunction with the mechanism; and

FIGURE 10 is a table explaining the manner in which the various printingdies are actuated during the individual rotations of the printing head,so as to synthesize various alpha-numeric and other symbols.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGURE 1 andincludes a base 10. A supporting shelf 12 is mounted on the base 10 bymeans, for example, of a plurality of upright posts 14. The entireassembly may be enclosed in a suitable housing, as represented by thedotted lines 16.

The mechanism of FIGURE 1 includes an elongated cylindrical printinghead 18 which is rotatably mounted in a printing mechanism, the printingmechanism being shown in more detail in FIGURES 5-8. The printingmechanism is enclosed in a suitable housing 20. An electric motor 22 hasits drive shaft extending into the housing and coupled to the head 18.The motor is energized to provide rotation for the printing head 18.

As mentioned above, the improved printing mechanism of the invention maybe used in conjunction with automatic devices and systems of varioustypes. In addition, the mechanism may be manually controlled. Anappropriate keyboard mechanism 24 is provided for manual controlpurposes.

The rotatable printing head 18 has a group of four elongated,rectangular-shaped, printing dies, or punches, mounted in it. These diesare shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, and are designated as 30, 32, 34 and 36,respectively. It will be noted that each of the printing dies has aprotruding boss or face 31 on its forward end. The dies 30, 32 and 34,for example, have a face 31 formed across the upper portion of theirrespective forward ends, and the die 36 has a diagonal face extendingacross its forward end, as shown.

The dies 30, 32, 34 and 36 are mounted in the rotatable cylindricalprinting head 18 of FIGURE 1 for rotation as a unit with the head 18. Inaddition, each of the dies may be longitudinally moved individually andselectively parallel to the axis of rotation of said head 18 from aretracted or stand-by position in the head to an extended printingposition.

A first reel mechanism, including a supply reel 40 and a take-up reel42, draws an inked ribbon 44 along a path adjacent the forward faces ofthe dies 30, 32, 34 and 36 in the printing head 18, and traversing thelongitudinal axis of the head.

Likewise, a take-up reel 46 and a supply reel 48 serve to draw a papertape 50 along a path adjacent the inked ribbon 44. The take-up reels 42and 46 may be driven by a motor 52, through an appropriate gear box 54.

A stationary cylindrical shaped platen 56 is mounted on the shelf 12,and this platen serves as a back-stop for the inked ribbon 44 and papertape 50. Whenever any one of the dies 30, 32, 34 and 36 is moved to itsextended printing position, the face of that die strikes the inkedribbon 44 and moves it and the tape 50 against the surface of the platen56. This causes an inked impression of the embossed design at theforward end of the actuated die to be imprinted on the paper tape.

By the proper actuation of the dies 30, 32, 34 and 36 during successiverevolutions of the printing head 18, any one of a variety ofalpha-numeric symbols can be imprinted on the paper tape 50. The speedof rotation of the printing head can be made sufficiently high withrespect to the speed of the ribbon 44 and paper tube 50, so that thesequential operation of the dies during a revolution of the head toimprint a symbol on the paper tape 50 can be made while the paper tape50 is moving without producing any discernible distortion insofar as theimprinted symbol is concerned. Under some conditions, however, it may bedesirable to drive the tape intermittently to avoid character blurring.

As shown in FIGURE 4, the various symbols, such as the symbol A, can beimprinted on the tape 50 during a complete revolution movingcounterclockwise, as shown in FIGURE 8 of the head 18, by activating thedies 30, 32, 34 and 36 selectively at predetermined angular positions ofthe printing head during its revolution.

For example, when the printing head has an angular position of readingcounterclockwise the dies 30, 32 and 34 are actuated simultaneously toprovide the imprinted mark shown in FIGURE 4a on the paper tape. Then,when the head has moved angularly to a 90 position, the dies 30 and 32are actuated to provide the additional mark, as shown in FIGURE 4b.Then, when the head has been turned to its 180 position, the die 34 isactuated to provide the additional mark, shown in FIG- URE 40, to thesymbol. Finally, when the head has moved to its 270 position, the dies30 and 32 are again simultaneously actuated to provide the furtherportion to the symbol, as shown in FIGURE 4d.

The result of this selective sequential operation of the differentprinting dies 30, 32 and 34 during the revolution of the printing head18 results in the symbol A, as shown in FIGURE 42. It is evident thatthe selective actuation of the printing dies in accordance with othersequences during the rotation of the head 18 can cause other symbols tobe imprinted on the tape.

The table of FIGURE illustrates the manner in which the various symbolsmay be imprinted, by the actuation of the different dies during the 0,90, 180 and 270 angular position of the head 18. In the table of FIGURE10, the die is designated 1, the die 32 is designated 2, the die 34 isdesignated 3, and the die 36 is designated 4.

The printing mechanism contained in the housing 20 is shown in moredetail in FIGURES 5-8. As mentioned above, the printing head 18 isrotatably mounted in the housing, and it is rotatably driven by themotor 22. The pirnting dies 30, 32, 34 and 36 are mounted in the head18, and these dies rotate as a group with the head about the axis ofrotation of the head.

The dies 30, 32, 34 and 36 are spring biased to their normal retractedstand-by position by a plurality of springs in the head 18, such as thesprings 60 and 62. Head 18 is normally constructed of two parts whichprovide for ease in insertion of the springs 60 and 62 within the head18 whereby the two parts of the head 18 may then be secured together byany suitable means. A plurality of solenoids 64, 66, 68 and 70 aremounted in the housing 20, and these solenoids include respectivepivoted arms 72, 74, 76 and 78.

When one of the solenoids 64, 66, 68 or 70 is energized, its armaturemoves outwardly, so that its pivoted arm strikes a hammer blow sharplyagainst the inner end of a particular one of the inner ends of dies 30,32, 34 or 36 positioned adjacent to that particular arm at its moment ofactuation. This causes the die struck to move outwardly against thetension of its biasing spring to its extended printing position, andsuch motion causes its face 31 to move the inked ribbon 40 and the papertape 50 sharply against the platen 56. Therefore, by the selectiveenergizing of the solenoids during each rotation of the head 18, thedifferent dies 30, 32, 34 and 36 may be selectively impelled to theirextended printing positions.

It is to be here understood that the relative position of the ends ofthe solenoid arms 72, 74, 76 or 78, the rear ends of the dies 30, 32, 34and 36, and the inner end 79 of the rotatable printing head 18, bothbefore and after actuation, is very important. The dies 30, 32, 34 and36 must be of such a length and positioned in respect to the platen 56and the ends 75 of the pivot arm 74 that each die is free or flying atthe moment the face 31 strikes the platen through the ribbon and paper.The solenoids 64, 66, 68 or 72 must be turned off before the end 75thereof moves into the rear end 79 of the rotatable head 18, and thehammer blow of the end 75 of the pivoted arm must be stopped fromforward movement against the die appreciably before the completion ofthe dies forward movement into the platen. This particular relationship,it will be appreciated, creates the free or flying die, permitting themomentum of the die to do the actual printing through the ribbon andpaper and to bounce back from the platen 56 and in cooperation with thesprings 62, etc., to return the die to its retracted position. A Thefree or flying die with its return bounce back from the platen isessential to give sharpness and non-smudging of the mark made thereby,as well as to prevent tearing of the ribbon and paper.

In order to provide an indication of the selected angular positions ofthe head 18, an apertured disc 100 is mounted on the head, to be rotatedtherewith. The disc 100 has an aperture 102 formed in it. In theembodiment being described, the head 18 and disc 100 are assumed torotate in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed from the front of themechanism.

A plurality of light sources 106, 107, 108 and 109 are mounted in thehousing 20 on appropriate brackets (not shown) to be positioned directlybehind the disc 100. These light sources are mounted in a circle, forexample, and are displaced angularly from one another. The light sourcesare positioned so that upon rotation of the disc 100, light from thedifferent sources sequentially passes through the aperture 102.

A plurality of photo-sensitive devices, such as a known type ofphoto-diode, are mounted on the opposite side of the disc to be inalignment with respective ones of the light sources. Thesephoto-sensitive devices are designated 110, 112, 114 and 116 in FIGURE8.

The arrangement is such that when the rotatable printing head 18 is in,for example, the 0 position, light from the light source 106 passesthrough the aperture 102 to strike the photo-diode 110, so as to providea corresponding output signal from that diode. Likewise, when theprinting head 18 is in the 90 position, light source 107, together withthe photo-diode 112 excited by light source 107, provides an outputsignal. In like manner, when the printing head is in the position, thephoto-diode 114, excited by light source 108, provides an output signal;and when the printing head is in the 270 position, the photo-diode 116,excited by light source 109, provides an output signal.

The output signals from the different photo-diodes are used to conditionthe corresponding solenoids 64, 66, 68 and 70 for energization. Thearrangement is such that the difierent solenoids may be selectivelyenergized when the printing head 18 is at its different selectiveangular positions, so as to synthesize the characters, a explainedabove.

As shown in FIGURE 9, the various solenoids 64, 66, 68 and 70 may becontrolled by a suitable logic network 200 which responds to signalsfrom the photo-diodes 110,

112, 114 and 116, as well as to appropriate input signals.

The logic network 200, for example, may respond to an input on the No. 1input line to operate the #1 (30) die at the position of the head 18.Likewise, the logic network may respond to an input on the No. 2 inputline to operate the #2 die (32) at the 0 position of the head 18, and soon. The selective application of inputs to the different input lines,then permit the printing mechanism to synthesize correspondingcharacters, in the manner described above.

A typical condition code for the input lines is represented in Table 1below. In each instance, the die indicated is operated by an input onthe correspondingly indicated input line. As in the preceding example,the die 30 is designated #1, the die 32 is designated #2, the die 34 isdesignated #3, and the die 36 is designated #4.

Then, as shown by the Table 2, inputs simultaneously apply to theindicated input lines cause the printer to imprint a correspondingnumber or letter.

Table l--C0nditi0n code Input line: Die 1:0 1 220 2 3:0 3 420 4 Table2Alpha-numeric conditions numeric Number (Input lines):

A lpha conditions Letter (Input lines):

Azl, 2, 4, 5, 6, 12, 13, 14

FIGURE 10 sets out in table form how the dies are programmed forprinting of different letters and symbols. For example, in producing theletter A dies 1, 2, and 4 (30, 32 and 34) are struck simultaneously whenthe head 18 is in the 0 quadrant, and will be actuated at this instantby the arms 72, 74 and 76, respectively. When the head 18 is in thequadrant, dies 1 and 2 will be struck simultaneously by arms 74 and 76.When the head 18 is in the quadrant, the die 4 only will be actuated byarm 74 and finally to complete the letter when the head 18 is in the 270quadrant, dies 1 and 2 will be actuated by arms 78 and 72. From this itwill be seen that each letter is formed or produced by a differentprogramming in accordance with the chart set out in FIG- URE 10.

The invention provides, therefore, an improved and simplified high speedprinting mechanism. The printing mechanism of the invention is capableof imprinting different alpha and numeric characters on the paper tapein response to the different inputs, as explained above.

It will be appreciated that the moving components of the printer of theinvention are reduced to a minimum, so that the mechanism is relativelysimple and inexpensive to construct. In addition, the high speedprinting mechanism of the invention may be operated in a relativelysimple manner, and it is capable of being conveniently coupled to highspeed calculating, computing, or communicating systems.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, modifications may be made. It is intended in the claims tocover such modifications which fall within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. A high-speed printing mechanism including: a cylinder, a plurality ofelongated printing dies mounted in said cylinder for rotation therewithabout the longitudinal axis of said cylinder and for individual movementparallel to the axis of said cylinder between a stand-by position and aprinting position, each of said dies parallel to the axis of saidcylinder having a pat-tern formed on a face thereof, and means forselectively moving said dies to said printing position.

2. A high-speed printing mechanism including: a cylinder, a plurality ofelongated printing dies mounted in said cylinder for rotation therewithas a unit about the longitudinal axis of said cylinder and forindividual movement parallel to the axis of said cylinder between astandby position and a printing position, each of said dies having apattern formed on a face thereof, means for driving a medium along apath traversing said axis to permit said medium selectively to receiveimpressions from said face of each of said dies as said dies areselectively moved to said printing position, and means for selectivelymoving said dies parallel to the axis of said cylinder to said printingposition as said medium is so driven along said paths.

3. A high-speed printing mechanism including: a cylindrical printinghead mounted for rotation about the 1ongitud-inal axis thereof; aplurality of elongated dies slidably mounted in said head for rotationtherewith and for individual longitudinal movement parallel to the axisof said head between a stand-by position and a printing position, eachof said dies having embossed markings formed on one face thereof, meansfor driving a medium along a path traversing the longitudinal'axis ofsaid printing head to enable said medium selectively to receive theimpressions of said markings on said face of each of said dies as thedies are selectively moved to said printing position,

and means for selectively moving said dies parallel to said longitudinalaxis of said cylinder to said printing position along a line parallel tosaid axis and at right angles to said medium as said medium is so drivenalong said path.

4. A high-speed printing mechanism for forming and printing charactersfrom a combination of impressions including: a cylindrical printing headmounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a plurality ofelongated dies slidably mounted in said head for rotation therewith andfor individual movement parallel to said axis of said head between aretracted stand-by position and an extended printing position, each ofsaid dies having a high-relief pattern formed on the forward facethereof, means coupled to said printing head for imparting rotationthereto about its longitudinal axis, means for driving a medium along apath adjacent said forward faces of said dies and traversing thelongitudinal axis of said printing head to enable said mediumselectively to receive the impression of said forward face of each ofsaid dies as the dies are selectively driven to said printing position,and further means for selectively driving said dies to said printingposition along a line parallel to said axis and at right angles to saidmedium as said medium is drawn along said path.

5. The machine defined in claim 4 and which includes resilient means insaid cylindrical printing head for biasing said dies to said stand-byposition.

6. The printing machine defined in claim 4 and which includes means forindicating selected angular positions of said printing head, and controlmeans coupled to said indicating means and to said further means forcontrolling the selective movement of said dies to said printingposition.

7. A high-speed printing mechanism including: a cylindrical printinghead mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a plurality ofelongated dies slidably mounted in said head for rotation therewith andfor individual movement parallel to said axis of said head between aretracted stand-by position and an extended printing position, each ofsaid dies having a high relief pattern formed on the forward endthereof, resilient means mounted in said head for biasing said dies tosaid standby position, a drive mechanism mechanically coupled to saidprinting head for imparting rotation thereto about said axis, a reelmechanism for driving a paper tape along a path adjacent said forwardends of said dies and traversing the longitudinal axis of said printinghead, and a plurality of solenoids mechanically coupled to respectiveones of said dies for selectively driving said dies parallel to the axisof said cylinder to said printing position to cause the patterns on theforward ends of said dies selectively to imprint impressions on saidpaper tape.

8. The machine defined in claim 7 and which includes means, including anapertured disc on said printing head and light-sensitive means forindicating seelcted angular positions of said head, and control meanselectrically coupled to said indicating means and to said solenoids forcontrolling the selective movement of said dies to said printingposition.

9. A printing mechanism for forming and printing characters from acombination of a plurality of dies comprising: a plurality of printingdies, each of said dies having a protruding face configuration on oneend thereof for printing impressions in combinations to form acharacter, said dies being rotatable as a unit about an axisperpendicular to said face configurations; and means for selectivelymoving said dies parallel to said perpendicular axis from a standbyposition to a printing position during a single revolution of said unitto form and print said character.

10. A printing mechanism as set forth in claim 9 including a mediumtraversing the perpendicular face of said plurality for receiving saidformed characters.

11. A printing mechanism for forming and printing alpha-numericcharacters on a medium comprising: four printing dies, each of said dieshaving a protruding face configuration on one end thereof for printingimpressions in combination to form alpha-numeric characters, said diesbeing rotatable as a unit about an axis perpendicular to their faceconfigurations; and means for moving selected combinations of said diesparallel to said axis at preselected quadrant divisions during a singlerevolution of said unit to form and print an alpha-numeric characterupon a medium traversing said face configuration of said dies.

12. A printing mechanism as set forth in claim 11 including means fordetermining when said dies are in a preselected quadrant whereby adesired combination of said dies are moved to said printing position toform and print a character upon said medium.

13. A printing mechanism as set forth in claim 12 including biasingmeans for returning said dies to a standby position when said characterforming and printing operation is completed.

14. A printing mechanism for forming and printing characters on a mediumcomprising a cylinder, a plurality of printing dies in said cylinderhaving face configurations for printing impressions in combinations toform a desired character, said plurality including three dies havingface configurations comprising high relief patterns forming a raisedsingle line, each said single line being parallel to the other and oneprinting die having a face configuration to form a single linediagonally with respect to said other three dies, means for rotatingsaid cylinder and said dies about the longitudinal axis of said cylinderand means for moving said dies parallel to said'axis.

15. A printing mechanism for forming and printing characters on a mediumcomprising: a rotatable die holder; means for rotating said die holderabout its longitudinal axis; a plurality of printing dies slidablymounted within said die holder, said plurality being rotatable with saiddie holder, each of said dies having a face configuration for printingimpressions in combination to form a character; and means for individualor combination selecting and depressing said plurality from a standbyposition to a printing position while said die holder is in apreselected quadrant of a single revolution.

16. A printing mechanism as set forth in claim 15 including means forindicating in which preselected quadrant said die holder is located.

17. A printing mechanism as set forth in claim 16 wherein said quadrantindicating means comprises: a light source disposed in each quadrant ofrotation of said die holder; a light sensitive indicator disposedadjacent each said light source; and an opaque member having a singleaperture, said member being coupled to said die holder to rotatetherewith and disposed between said light source and said lightsensitive indicators whereby said indicators will be enabled by saidlight source when said aperture passes therebetween.

18. In mechanism for forming printed characters by sequentialimpressions on a medium comprising: a head rotatable on an axis normalto said medium, a printing die carried by said head in a positionradially offset from its axis and movable parallel to said axis intocontact with said medium, means for rotating said head, printing controlmeans, and means jointly controlled by said printing control means andsaid head rotating means for moving said die into contact with saidmedium at a plurality of different angular rotational positions of saidhead.

19. In mechanism for forming printed characters by sequentialimpressions on a medium comprising: a head rotatable on an axis normalto said medium, a plurality of printing dies carried by said head inpositions radially offset from its axis and individually movableparallel to said axis into contact with said medium, means for rotatingsaid head, printing control means, and means jointly controlled by saidprinting control means and said head rotating means for moving said diesindividually and in References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATESPATENTS 11/24 Carroll 10193 2/33 Bryce 10193 Bryce 10193 Conrad 17862Deloraine 178-30 Potter 10193 Johnson 197-1 X Knutsen 1971 Hen-so 10193WILLIAM B. PENN, Primary Examiner.

1. A HIGH-SPEED PRINTING MECHANISM INCLUDING: A CYLINDER, A PLURALITY OFELONGATED PRINTING DIES MOUNTED IN SAID CYLINDER FOR ROTATIOON THEREWITHABOUT THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID CYLINDER AND FOR INDIVIDUAL MOVEMENTPARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SAID CYLINDER BETWEEN A STRAND-BY POSITON AND APRINTING POSITION, EACH OF SAID DIES PARALLE TO THE AXIS OF SAIDCYLINDER HAVING A PATTERN FORMED ON